Rail-joint bed-plate.



No. 699,905. Patented May I3, 1902.

J. H. WHITMYER.

RAIL JOINT BED P TE.

(Application Bled Aug; 29, L)

(No Modei.)

UNYFHD STATESv xP MuzNT OFFICE.

JOHN Y'HENRY wHiTMYER, OF JoHNsTOwN, NEw YORK.

BED-PLATE.

sPEoIFIcATIoNfOrming partof Letters Patentino. 699,9o5, dated May 13,1902. Y I Application-filed August 29,l 71901. Serial No. '73,75-5. (Nomodel.)

To all zoll/0711, it muy concern:

Be it known that Lf-JOHN HENRY WHIT- MYER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Johnstown, county of Fulton, and State of New York,have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Rail Joint Bed'Plates, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in rail-jointbed-plates, and has forits object to provide a plate which is adapted tolie underneath the flange of the rails and extend across the jointbetween the two rails for the purpose of preventing the rails at thispoint from sagging and strengthening the joint.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in` which-YFigure l is a perspective View of a section of railway-rails, showing myinventionapplied thereto; Fig. 2, a cross-section through railroad-railshaving myV invention applied thereto, and Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview ofthe bed-plate.

The bed-plate consists of the flat strip A,y which has formed upon eachend the extension B upon one side and the turned-over lip C upon theotherside. The extension B and the turned-over lip C upon one end areupon the opposite sides to the extension and lip upon the other end ofthe plate. The ends of the rails are adapted to rest upon ythe plate Aand the joint between the rails to come about in the center of the same.The width of the plate A is exactly the same as the width of the ange ofthe rail. The turnedover lipC is adapted to embrace the flange of one ofthe rails upon one side, and the other turned-over lip upon the otherend of the bedplate is adapted to embrace the flange of the other railupon the opposite side.l The `extensions' BH-have holes D formedglthrough the sama-'andthe ends of the .bed-plate are (each adapted torestupon the.,ties, and

through the holes D are adapted' to be'fdriven ordinary railroad-spikes,the head of .which ,will engage the vflange'of` the rails andbyIpassing' through the `holes willhold the bed- :plate in position:relative n to the rails. 'The turned-over lip C engagingtheiiange ofthe lrail uponfone side andthe spike :upon .the

other will preventany; lateral movement," and by reason of the spikepassing throughthe` bed-plate into the tie the bed-plate willalso serveto hold the rails against any lateral'.

movement.

The advantage of my invention isf'thatthe bed-plate will strengthen thejoint and also prevent the rails from sagging at the joint, andtherefore prevent any unevenness of the rails, which will add to thecomfort of the passengers by reducing the jolting of the train. fAnother advantage of my invention is that the bed-plate can be stampedor rolled and made very cheaply and can be easily replaced should-One'become damaged.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction hereshown, as slight modifications could be made without depart Ving fromthe spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis- In a railroad-joint bed-plate consisting of a flat metallic strip ofabout the same width as theflangehof the rail, a turned-over portionformedupon `one side of one end of the strip, another turned-overportion formed upon the other side of the other end of the strip, anextension formed upon each end of the strip upon the side opposite tothe turned-over portion, holes formed through said extension,substantially as and for the purpose'specif'led.

In testimony whereof -I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HENRY wHiTMYiJR.`

